Bengaluru pitch rated ‘below average’ by match referee

The surface used for the second Test between India and Australia at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru has been given a ‘below average’ rating by the ICC match referee, Chris Broad. Previously, he had also given ‘poor’ rating for the Pune pitch on which the first Test match of the ongoing series was held.a below average rating carries no penalty

The pitch offered tremendous turn and bounce right from the opening day of the Test match, as Nathon Lyon picked up 8 wickets for 50 runs, his career-best figures in Test cricket. As the game progressed, the bounce became even more unpredictable – especially from day three onwards — with Virat Kohli, Mitchell Marsh, Steven Smith and R Ashwin all accounted by low-bounce in the wicket.

Unlike the series-opener in Pune, which Australia had managed to win in just inside three days, the second match provided a much better contest. India eventually triumphed in the final session of the fourth day to level the series at 1-all.

According to ICC standards, a below average rating does not carry any penalty or fine, and ranks ahead of ‘poor’ and ‘unfit’.

For pitches to be rated ‘Below Average’ as the one in Bengaluru, the ICC set of rules and guidelines state:

“Either very little carry and/or bounce and/or more than occasional seam movement, or occasional variable (but not excessive or dangerous) bounce and/or occasional variable carry. If a pitch demonstrates these features, then the pitch can not be rated in a higher category regardless of the amount of turn the pitch displays at any stage of the match.”